Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-07-15
got such foot-hold inside the fort that
they could not be dislodged.
HORACE WHEELER,
Late of U. S. Navy.
Incidents of Signal Corps Service.

1 was member of the United States
Signal Corps, and while on duty during
and after the siege of Vicksburg q great
many things occurred which, doubtless,
Will DC remembered by those who took q,
part therein.
For a time after the surrender, while we
We're quartered in the city, it was custom
airy to send out three or four of our wagons;
with which the Signal Corps was abunduntly
supplied, on foragng expeditions. Whethe:
under orders from headquarters. or whether
our officers took the responsibility upon
themselves, l could not say. Neverthe-
less We made about two trips week, and
upon ono occasion about TWENTY-FIVE of US
saddled our horses, and with four wagons
started out toward Black River, some tif-
teen miles back of Vicksburg, for the pur-
pose OF securing forage and whatever else
might be found lying around loose at both
ends.
We had not proceeded far when we met
captain of negro company, who had
gone out in advance of us, coming on a
double-quick, barehealed and nearly out of
breath. 1t was some time before he could
make us understand what was the matter.
He said that his party of fifteen darkies,
while gathering corn in field about two
miles back, had been attacked by about
two hundred Johnnies; that they had
slipped up on them i'll the corn field, fired
volley into them, and he was the only
one who had escaped. We called a coun-
go back, but concluded to go on. We
started on lope for the battle field and
soon reached the corntield. There were
three darkies killed; none wounded. We
kept Oh in pursuit and soon met a company
OF our cavalry coming back with the john
mes. The company Of cavalry was part
OF Sherman g body guard who had been
scouting near, and hearing the firing, went
in pursuit, and overlook them on the Black
Rlver making raft to cross on. They
shot one while swimming across and cap
tured the others. There were only eight in
all. We waited till our wagons came up,
then proceeded on another road about two
miles farther, went into camp, put out
guards, and about nine o'clock, after we
had eaten our supper and were getting
ready to retire for the night, one Of the
guards fired at dog just above us on the
road. The Captains darby had not yet
put out his fire, and as soon as the sentinel
fired we all yelled to the negro to extinguish
Insight; and he being badly excited, picked
up a pan of grease and threw it on the fire,
and it bazed up, making the camp as light
as day. 1t was truly laughable to see us
all scampering i'll every direction for the
darkness, expecting every moment to hear
volley Of musketry fired into us.
Next morning early we secured our corn
and such other things as we could make
use OF in camp in the line Of eatables-
chickens, butter, fruit, etc.-and started on
our return. When within two miles of
Vicksburg we halted and discharged our
revolvers. There were about two thousand
negroes encamped on the road between us
and town, who, hearing the report of our
revolvers, took fright, and such stampede
was never witnessed during the war.
Old men and children ran until
they became exhausted and fell down
along the roadside. They supposed, when
they heard the firing, that it was the rebels
attacking them in their camp. Just as we
arrived in town boat-load of ammunition
exploded, produced by a negro dropping
percussion she'll down into the hull of the
boat, causing the death of over one hum
dred people, mostly those engaged in I'M
loading the boat. We often referred to
this expedition as the one of events and in
cidents; and If any one OF the Signal Corps
happens 10 see this narrative, who was along
on this occasion, he doubtless will recollect
all the facts in the case. 1t was surprise,
a camp scare, a darky stampede, and an
explosion of boat-load of ammunition.
j. AZ. Borns, Member of U. S. Signal
Corps, a. Chicago Ledger.